Press and frame



July 7, 1931. J. c. LEDBETTER PRESS AND FRAME 2 Sheets-Shea! 1 Original Filed July 2, 1924 INVENTOR James C, L edbelfer' ORNEYS PRESS"'AND FRAME Original Filed July 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Shae! INVENTO m a: d edetier ATTOR Patented July 7, 1931 [UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca JAMES C. LEDBETTER, OF BROQKLYNyNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE- ASSIGNMENTSF TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY, INC., OF SYRACUSEQNEW OF NEW YORK YORK, .A- CORPORATION PRESS AND FRA E Application filedJuly 2,1924, Serial No. 723,741. Renewed March 20, 1930.

This invention relates to garment pressing machines and particularly to frames therefor; and a main object is .to :produce a press frame convertlble from small presses to large presses, whereby one standard frame is used in assembling several distinct types of presses, as for example, a large size press or a small press.

Furthermore it is" an object of this invention to produce a pressing machine possessing to afford extended wide opening press jaws visibility of the work without at the same time permitting Wide spreading angular fmovement between the jaws, for angularly spreading jaws are dangerous to the operator for the reason that so much clearance exists between the pressing members. that the operator may inadvertently place his hands while in the case of later- 2o ally opening pressing jaws, as in my invenfeature is entirely 1 duty presses, while the second is used in asbetween the jaws,

7 tion, this dangerous avoided. 1

An additional objectis to produce a frame and press construction wherein a relatively few additional parts are made and carried in stock-by the manufacturer to enable various type presses to be assembled with substantially the same parts ing manufacturing operations. I The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention and it is understood howcertain changesin construction and operation thereof may be made without departingfrom the scope ofthe invention.

Figure 1 is a front View; and Figure 2 is a side view of a flat-jawtype of garment or laundry press. 7

Figure 3 shows a view ofthe frame indisassembled or knock-down relation and facili- 4o tates an understanding of the standard convertible press frame whereby different types of pressing machines may be assembled upon one and the same frame. I Y j I Figure 4 is a side view and Figure 5 is a 43 front view of a V-shaped type of press which is frequently used in finishing cuffs,

neck bands and the like. p 7

Referring first to Figure 3 for a description of v the universal and standard frame parts, there is shown a support standard commotor housing.

legs 11 are provided and are bolted onto the thus greatly simplifys1dew1ngs or ears 12 of the largemotor l'lOHS-LI large presses.

"motor housing gether taking up ing-asuitably restricted frame for'small size;

j for example large area jaw presses for ironing sheets and the like or small area V-shaped'l? jaws for ironing cuffs and dislike, may be constructed from practically the same parts, and these ironing machines are preferably of the power driven type and may be'operated from a piston and cylinder, by foot power or-I other means. However, the frame comprising this invention maybe adapted to manually operated presses, tailor presses, and othersas well. To this'end a large motor housing or cylinder 8 and a small motor hous-LC. ing or cylinder 9 are provided, the first being used in assembling large high powered heavy sembling smaller presses. It is significant however that the frame standard 5 is used? with either housing 8 01 9; 'and the wing brackets 7 bolt upon the bosses 10 of either A standard form of frame ing or to the wings 13 of the small housing. 0

spaced, apart a suitably wide distance for 1 large area pressing machines thereby pro-C viding a suitable leg spread andsu'ppo'rt for. 815.

On the other hand, a small 9 brings the legs closer tolessfloor' space and providpressing machines. j 1 I v An adaptor reach bracket 15 is provided for use in assembling large size press-es as will be described. This adaptor bracket is pro vided with a hub 16 into which pendulum swing links are anchoredfor laterally opening and closing the press; and bolting wings or ears 17 are formed on the upper end of the adaptor bracket by which the said bracket is secured to one of the pressing members. A handle 18 is carried by this bracket and is 10" sometimes used by the operator in manually aiding laterally opening and closing press movemen s. This mounting bracket 15 in effect is U-shaped and is-designed to carry the press head when assembling a. large size flat jaw press, the bracket being so constructed that it reaches around the stationary aw 23 and anchors to the movable jaw 24.

Short and long fulcrum shafts 20 and 21 are provided, the former being used in assembling a small press employing the small motor housing 9, while the latter shaft 21 is employed in assembling a large press using the large motor housing 8. The manufacturer may, simply by building the extra parts namely, the adaptor bracket 15, large motor housing 8, and the extra shaft 21, assemble the large size flat work ironing press from the same parts ordinarily used in the manufacture of small cuff and neck band presses, excepting of course the manufacturer will necessarily build the different size pressing aws as will. be readily understood.

Having in part described the essential elements going into the makeup of the frame, a description will now be given of two types of pressing machine to which the frame is adapted; and from that, one versed in the art, will come to appreciate how the frame is adapted to other machines.

In Figures 1 and 2, which show the assembled views, a large size press is illustrated in full lines, while a small cuff and neck band press is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; and reference to the drawings clearly indicate how the same frame work is employed for both types of machines, excepting of course substitute frame parts are used in converting the frame from one to the other type of machine.

A description will first be given of the large size press wherein a pressing buck or lower jaw 23 is anchored to the bolting brackets 6 on the universal standard 5 and the lower end of the standard is attached to the large size motor housing 8. The leg plates 11 are shown bolted to the side wings 12 of the large housing and thus the frame structure sup ports the pressing buck or work support 23 in fixed position.

A pressing head or upper aw 24 is carried movably above the buck 23, and a pair of the reach brackets 15 are bolted thereto. The said brackets 15 reach rearwardly and around both pressing members or jaws 23 and 24 and dispose the hubs 16 in vertical alignment with the center longitudinal axis of the press frame as observed by referring to Figure 2. A pair of pendulum-like swing links 25 have their upper ends anchored to the reach bracket hubs 16, and the lower ends of the swing links are anchored to the longer fulcrum shaft 21 by hubs 33; and the longer shaft acts to spread the pendulum swing links 25 in distantly spaced relation on the outside of the frame legs 11. The fulcrum shaft 21 is horizontally mounted in alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the press frame and motor cylinder 8 or housing; and a connecting rod 26 has its hub 27 pivotally mounted on the fulcrum shaft 21 while the upper end of the connecting rod extends into the motor cylinder 8 which receives fluid pressure from a feed pipe 80, and the rod 26 and connects with any suitable power developing means such as a piston 8a. The connecting rod 26 supports the shaft 21 in an upwardly limited position which normally spaces: the head and buck apart as observed in the assembly views; and the connecting rod 26 and fulcrum shaft 21 are so adjusted that sufficient clearance exists between the head and buck as to permit the head to travel laterally back and forth without disturbing the work, yet at the same time the clearance is so slight, possibly about oneeighth of an inch, that an operator cannot accidently injure his fingers therebetween.

A pair of radius bars or links 28 have their rear ends pivotally mounted on the frame legs at 29 and their front ends pivotally mounted I on the fulcrum shaft. These two radius bars or guide links are therefor spaced apart and act to hold the fulcrum shaft 21 in steady movement during the short up and down stroke of the connecting rod 26. In other words, the radius bars 28 reach out like a pair of arms and maintain the fulcrum shaft 21 in horizontal. alignment and causes the head 24 to be accurately guided throughout its back and forth movement across the working surface of the buck 23. These radius links are standard for all types of presses to which the herein described frame is adapted.

The weight of the pressing head 24 is carried directly by the vertical swing links 25 and since the center of gravity is located directly over the fulcrumshaft 21, the head 24 stands in a more or less sensitively poised manner and is easily moved back and forth,

either by power or manually by the operator. A foot pedal closing means is shown in the present instance for swinging the head forwardly across the buck, and comprises a pedal yoke 31 which is anchored, as by means of pins or otherwise, to the shaft 21. A foot piece 32 is cast integrally with the yoke on which the operators foot presses to rotate the shaft 21 which in turn swings the upper ends of the links 25 and head 24 as well for wardly into alignment with the buck.

It is observed how the lower ends of the 'head swing links 25 are mounted in hubs 33 downwardly where a spring 35 has one end thereof attached to the arm, and the other spring end is anchored to the frame as on a pin 36. The spring acts to'open the press by rotating the shaft 21 counter-clockwise to swing the upper ends of the head links 25 rearwardly and throw the headback off the buck. 7

After the head 24 swings into alignment with the buck 23, the motor means contained with the frame housing 8, causes a downward thrust on the connecting rod 26 thereby applying high pressure between the head and buck 24, butjsince the present invention does not relate to the mot-or means, the same has not been shown.

A description will now be given of a small pressing machine in order to show how my frame improvementsare adapted to small type presses such as cuff and neck band machines as' well as to large type presses hereinbefore described. Reference is now made to Figures 4 and 5. o

The standard bolting wings 6 support a V-shaped buck 40 with a head 41 superimposed thereabove and adapted to swing back and forth on the'links 250 which are the same as hereinbefore described. The head 41 is provided with hubs 42 which are identical with the hubs 16 of the reach brackets 15 already; described, and therefore the upper ends of the, swing links 250 are readily adapted to be screw-threaded into the V-type jaw hub 42. The reference numeral 250 points out the new position for the swing links 25 when they are drawnin to work on a small press;

I In assembling a small press as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the short fulcrum shaft 20 is used together with the small diameter cylindrical housing 9'which brings the legs 110 together in somewhat closer relation than exists in the large machine. The front assembly View Figure 5 clearly shows the small motor cylinder 9 as well as the new position 110 of'the legsi The'connecting rod 26 is connected with a reduced size piston 9a which isthrust downwardly by fluid pressure admitted 'into the cylinder thru a pipe 90 V Presslng maclnnes constructedln accordance with the plans of this 1I1VG1lt101lS1II1- plifies manufacturing operationsin that the samepar'ts, or substitute parts, are used for various types of machlnes thereby rendering the production thereof more economical. Furthermore a pressmg mach ne of this type covers less floor space which represents a saving to the user. Likewise pressing machines employing the inverted pendulum type principle, do not require counterbalance weights to add to the material which goes into the press, and burden the machine oper ation by rendering sluggish the moving parts for those having knowledge of the art recognize that the inertia of standing weights must be overcome before the press starts to close. An inverted pendulum type press possesses inherently its own balancing means by properly disposing the weight of all moving parts directly over the pivot point, which is to say the center of gravity is so lined up as to make the moving press jaw balance itself. v

One of the motor housings 8 or 9 constitute the groundwork of the frame, i; e. the motor housing provides a base to which the frame standard 5 and legs 11 are fixed. The frame 5 above the motor housing is standard in use for both sizes or types of press jaws, and the same is'trueof the legs 11. 1 The standard 5is preferably anchored in the center of the frame spreader or housing 8 so the center element 5 is therefore placed out of theway of all other parts. Power is exerted down through the push or connecting rod 26 to pull down on the swing links 25 and produce jaw compression, but depression of the pedal operating means 32 closes the press head j aw 24 across the buck 23; The swing links 25 are disposed at the ends of the press jaws or underneath thereof and the upper ends of the swing links 25 are proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press The points mentioned and others are novel, and pedal 32 or motor operating means 9 may be employed to work the press. The radius bars 28 permit of a guided downward movement of the links 25 to com press the head 24 against the buck 23 after the operator closes the head across the buck'by the handle and/or the pedal.

What I claim is 1. A pressing machine frame comprising in combination, a vertical standard, a bolting bracket integrallyformed on each end thereof and spreading outwardly to each side ofthe standard, a housing upon which the lower end of the standard is bolted,'and frame legs carried by the housing. i

2. A pressing machine in combination, a vertical standard, abolting bracket integrally formed on each end thereof and spreading outwardly to each side of-the standard, a housing to which the lower bolting bracket is bolted, opposite sides of the housing, and frame legs boltedonto the ears. K

3. A pressing machine comprising a frame including a bolting bracket, a press jaw mounted thereon, a press head superimposed above the jaw, vertical swing links pivoted on the lower end-of, the frame, and adapter tionary press aw carried thereon, a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate their lower ends in the frame and the1r upper endsterminati-ng at a point under the jaw frame comprisingtllo bolting ears formed 011 116 proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, a movable press aw disposed above the. first named jaw, means arched around the stationary jaws to mount the movable jaw 0n the upper ends of the swing links, and means to swing the links to open and close the press.

5. A press comprising, a frame and a press jaw carried thereon, a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate their lower ends and their upper ends terminating at a point proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, radius-link means pivotally supporting the lower ends of the swing links movable in relation to the frame, a movable press jaw disposed above the first named aw, adapter means carrying the movable aw and mounted on the upper ends of the swing links, operating means to swing the links to open and close the press, and means to swing the radius-link means to bring the aws together under compression.

6. A press comprising, a frame and a press jaw carried thereon, a radius bar one end of which is pivotally mounted in the frame and the other end is movablv free of the frame. a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate their lower ends in the free end of the radius bar and their upper ends terminating at a point proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, a movable press jaw disposed above the first named jaw, adapter means carrying the movable j aw and mounted on the upper ends of the swing links, means to swing the links to open and close the press, and means to produce final jaw compression by moving the radius bar downwardly.

7. A press comprisin a frame and a press jaw carried thereon. a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate the r lower ends and their upper ends terminating at a point proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, a horizontal pivot on which the lower ends of the swing links are carried, means to afford a guided up and down movement of the swing links, a movable press jaw disposed above the first named jaw, adapter means carrying the movable i a and mounted on the upper ends of the swing links, operating means to swing the links to open and close the press, and motor means colnperating with the horizontal pivot to force the swing links downwardly to produce jaw compresslon.

8. A press comprising, a frame havinglegs and a press jaw carried on the frame, a pair of upright spaced swing links disposed outside the legs and pivoted proximate the r lower ends and their upper ends terminating at apointproximate the mean longitudinal center of the press aw, a movable press aw disposed above the first named jaw, adapter means carrying the movable aw and mounted on the upper ends of the swing links, and operating means to swing the links to open and close the press and to produce jaw compression.

9. A press comprising, a frame and a press jaw carried thereon, a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate their lower ends and their upper ends terminating at a point proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, a movable press jaw disposed above the first named jaw, a U-shaped member anchored to the movable jaw and reaching around the stationary jaw and anchored to the upper ends of the swing links, means to swing the links to open and close the pressjaws, and means to produce jaw compresslon.

10. A press comprising, frame legs, means carried by the frame legs to mount a stationary press jaw thereon, a pair of swing links disposed outside the frame legs in vertical position and having their upper ends anchored to a movable jaw by a U-shaped adapter means, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, means to afford an up and down motion thereof to effect jaw contact and separation, and operating means including a pedal having a fixed connection with the lower end of the swing links to swing the links and to produce jaw compression.

11. A press comprising, frame legs, means carried bv the frame legs to mount a stationary press jaw thereon, a pair of upright swing links disposed outside the frame legs, removable adapter means fixed on the upper ends of the swing links, movable jaw attached to the adapter means, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, a radius link pivoted on the frame and carrying the fulcrum means to afford an up and down motion of the swing links, a housing for'motor means disposed above the fulcrum means and above the radius link, motor means in the housing, a push rod projecting from the motor means down to and connected with the fulcrum means, and operating means to swing the upright links.

12. A press comprising, frame legs, means carried by the frame legs to mount a stationary press jaw thereon, a pair of swing links disposed uprightly outside the frame legs and each link carrying a U-shaped member on its upper end reaching around the stationary j aw and anchored to a movable aw, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, radius link means connected to the swing links to afford an up and down motion of the swing links, and operating means to swing the links and to produce jaw compression;

13. A press comprising, frame legs, means carried by the frame legs to mount a stationary press jaw thereon, a pair of swing links disposed uprightly outside the frame legs, a removable U-shaped adapter means connecting the swing links and a movable press jaw and connected tor means, fulcrum means carried by thelower end of the push rod and pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, a radius link pivoted to the frame and connected to the swing links to afford an up and down motion thereto, and operating means to swing the upright swing links.

14. A press comprising; a frame including, a housing for motor means, a vertical standard supported centrally on the housing, and legs on the housing; a stationary jaw carried on the upper end of the standard, a movable jaw, a pair of swing links disposed parallel to the frame legs and having their upper ends operatively connected to the movable aw, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, a motor means in the housing, a push rod projecting downwardly from the motor in the motor housing and attached to the ful crum means, and operating means to swing the links.

15. A press comprising, frame legs, a standard mounting a stationary'press jaw, a motor means housing connecting the legs and standard, a movable jaw, a pair of swing links disposed vertically outside the frame legs and having their upper ends operatively connected to the movable j aw, fulcrum means directly under the housing and pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, radius link means pivoted to the frame to the swing links to afford an up and down motion thereto, a pedal connected to the lower ends of the swing links to close the press jaws, and motor means in the housing connected to the swing links to produce jaw compression. I

16. A press comprising, a frame and a press jaw carried thereon, a pair of upright spaced swing links pivoted proximate their lower ends and their upper ends terminating at a point proximate the mean longitudinal center of the press jaw, a horizontal pivot on which the lower endsofthe swing links are carried, means to afford a guided up and down movement of theswirig links, amovable press jaw disposed abovethe first named jaw, adapter means carrying the 'movable jaw and mounted on the upper ends of the swing links, operating means to swing the links to'open and close the press, and motor means to force the swing links downwardly to produce jaw compression.

17 A pressing machine frame comprising in combination, a vertical standard including a V-shaped bolting bracket integrally formed on each end thereof, a housing upon which the lower V-shaped bracket is bolted, and frame legs secured to each side of the housing.

press comprising; a frame including a housing for motor means, motor means in the housing, a vertical standard supported centrally on the housing and formed with a bolting bracket on each end thereof, and legs carried on the housing; a stationary aw carried on the upper end of the standard, a

movable jaw, a pair of swing links disposed parallel to the frame legs and having their upper ends anchored to the movable aw, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, a push rod projectable downwardly by the motor means in the housing and attached to the fulcrum means, radius links carrying the fulcrum means and affording an up and down motion thereof, and operating means to swing the links.

19. A press comprising; a frame including a housing for motor means, motor means in the housing, a vertical standard supported centrally on the housing and formed with a bolting bracket on each end thereof, and framelegs on the housing; a stationary jaw carried on the upper end of the standard, a movable jaw, a pair of swing links disposed parallel to the frame legs and having their upper ends anchored to the movable jaw, fulcrum means pivotally supporting the swing links proximate their lower ends, a push trod projectable downwandly by the motor means in the housing and attached to the fulcrum means, radius links carrying the fulcrum and affording an up and down motion thereof, said radius links being pivoted to the rear legs of the frame, and operating means to swing the links.

20. A pressing machine comprising a frame, a pressure chamber carried by the frame, a buck mounted on the pressure chamber, a head movable toward and from the buck, a pressure member movable in said chamber, motion transmitting connections between the pressure member and the head comprising a floating link pivoted at its lower end to the pressure member and'carrying the head at its upper end, and meansfor supplying a fluid pressure to the upper portion of the pressure chamber above the pressure member. I A

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES C. LEDBETTER. 

